KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP)

With fans coming from around the world for next year's cricket World Cup, former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh wants to protect the home-field advantage.

He's calling for Caribbean nationals overseas to show their support by coming home and attending the March 11 opening ceremony at Jamaica's new Trelawny Stadium.

"If the team gets that encouragement from day one, from the entire Caribbean, that we are behind them from the opening ceremony, I'm sure that the youngsters would get the message loud and clear ... failure is not an option," he said in a statement Sunday.

Walsh, the first bowler to take 500 wickets in Test, said fans have had reason to stray from the team because of a lack of commitment and consistency.

"If, however, we go out and show them that we believe in them, put them under pressure to show us their commitment, their pride and to be consistent, they have every chance of winning the Cricket World Cup," he said.

The retired fast bowler, who played 132 test matches and ended his career with 519 wickets at 24.44, is now a spokesman for the Jamaica Tourist Board.